Palms show great resilience

Palms show great resilience and can be grown in divergent climatic and soil conditions. So many species are not restricted to deserts and white, sandy beaches, as is generally perceived. They can survive in tropical and subtropical regions as well as in cold climates. Contrarily, a majority of Palms prefer cool climatic conditions with minimum heat and humidity. Some will tolerate even quite deep shade and a great majority grows deep in the gloomy rainforest and perhaps remains devoid of sunlight throughout.

Palms have a characteristic shape which usually makes them easily recognizable. However, at times these may be confused with Yuccas, Cordylines or Bananas as their leaves bear resemblance. However in terms of the hardiness, no standardized classification is offered by botanists. In fact, there is a huge debate regarding the most hardy of them all!

Increasingly, more and more people are growing Palms,. giving it the status of ‘ a must have’ for homes and particularly for gardens. Today, no garden or greenhouse can be complete without these fascinating beings.
1.1.1 Chinese windmill palm – ‘ Trachycarpus fortunei’

This queer looking Palm variety is also known as the Chinese windmill. The top of the trunk has a head of fan shaped leaves. The trunk is hard and hairy in appearance. It’ s the most widely grown palm variety that swarms public parks around the southwest coastal areas of UKandU S.
Moderately warm conditions best suits the plant. It requires a rich soil and plenty of moisture.
Young trees usually have moderately long leaf stems with distinctively large leaves. T he stem is stiff but the leaves are delicate and liable to damage from strong winds. Though in rare cases these trees can be really tall, they are look better when somewhat shorter.
Most botanical experts generally consider it to be the hardiest among true Palms. At least there is some unanimity about the fact that it’ s the ‘ hardiest trunk-forming palm’ . The Royal Horticultural Society in Britain is the ultimate authority for botanical studies. The society in its “ The Gardeners' Encyclopaedia” " has classified various varieties of Palms on the basis of hardiness. This book mentions the following 4 categories:
The first category comprises of those that are hardy at moderately low temperatures, the next category has those that are hardy at even lower temperatures and the last category is of those awe inspiring ones that can be hardy at extremely low temperatures.-.According to t he book this Palm variety belongs to the second category and can endure considerably low temperatures. Strangely enough it has been found to survive even in the north of Devon, in England, enduring extremely low temperatures and heavy snowfall.
1.1.2 Chilean Wine palm – ‘ Jubaea chilensis’
The Chilean Wine Palm (Jubaea chilensis) is a massive and a cold-tolerant Palm. It’ s a hardy feather Palm and can endure exceedingly low temperatures. ’ s generally planted in the ground in a location where it can get sufficient sunlight.
It has deep green, arching pinnately compound leaves and a very distinctive trunk. The trunk usually stores water and becomes greatly enlarged similar to a baobab tree. In addition to vertical growth, the trunk keeping enlarging diametrically also. The trunk stores sap, which may be tapped and fermented into an alcoholic drink. That is why it’ s popularly referred to as the Wine Palm. This palm can be exceptionally tall, however its progress is slowa nd can take several years to achieve an impressive height. It bears small yellow coloured seed-bearing fruits The seed can germinate easily however that takes some time too, about four months.

1.1.3 Needle Palm - ‘ Rhapidophyllum hystrix’
This plant belongs to the class of Rhapis, which are characterized by fan shaped leaves. These are some of the easiest Palms to grow, but each species has its own particular environment requirements.
Needle palm is scientifically known as Rhapidophyllum hystrix,which belongs to the genre of shrubby like trunk-less Palms. It derives its name from the fibrous projections at the bases of the leaves. It doesn’t require much care or attention, growing widely from the southern tip of South Carolina to central Florida, and west to southern Mississippi. Native to the south eastern US, it has prominence in the wild, wooded, swampy areas. It’ s probably the cold-hardiest Palm, surviving extremely low temperatures . This needle variety Palm requires filtered light and is suited for a moist position in sun or shade. However, at higher latitudes its light requirement increases. It’ s not preferable to grow them in direct sunlight. Its crown consisting of bunch of leaves may become scorched losing their dark green colour.
Unfortunately this palm is becoming quite rare. This is due to increased pace of activities related to habitat destruction and collection of wild specimens. Coupled with this, high incubation period and slow pace of seed germination requiring of up to two years, makes the problem more complex.
1.1.4 Fan Palm – ‘ Trachycarpus Wagneriensis’
It’ s generally regarded as a mere variety of fortunei the fan-shaped Chinese windmill palm rather than a separate species. This is for the simple reason that with minor exceptions, it looks quite similar to that class. However it’ s leaves are smaller and stiffer. They are average looking and are less susceptible to wind damage.
1.1.5 Blue Palmetto -‘ Sabal Minor’
It’ s another of that shrub like fan Palm, endowed with characteristics of Nannorrhops ritchiana in terms of hardiness. Sabal minor, also known, as ‘ The dwarf palmetto’ is native to the south eastern US. It has Costa palmate leaves that are greenish blue in colour. It has a subterranean trunk, which actually grows downward into the soil. This gives it the appearance of being trunk-less. This fan Palm is a slow grower and desires plenty of moisture and sunlight.
When young, it ‘ s usually three feet high and is susceptible to attacks by red coloured spider mites. When full grown it’ s usually around ten feet in height. Although this Palm is extremely cold hardy, enduring moderately low temperatures. However, hot summers are must for its survival.
1.1.6 Mazari Palm – ‘ Nannorrhops ritchiana’
Even though this Palm variety is native to Afghanistan,it can be easily grown in the climatic conditions o UK and USA. As these Palms are a centre of a lot of debate and are probably believed to display idiosyncratic characteristics. A hot, dry climate, well-draining soil and sunny exposures are probably the most ideal for this Palm. Though, no one can say with certitude how cold hardy it actually is yet it is widely believed to survive even extreme cold temperatures. Mazari palms are usually tall with a crown of stiff, blue-grey Costa palmate leave sat the top of the trunk.
1.1.7 Dwarf Fan Palm – ‘ Chamaerops humilis’
This shrubby Palm has attractive fan-shaped leaves. It’ s native to Europe and is popular ly grown in UKa nd USA. It’ s usually compared with Trachycarpus fortunei for is hardiness and wind susceptibility. It’ s less hardy as compared to Trachycarpus fortunei and less susceptible to wind damage because of its stiff leaves.
When young it usually has an extremely short, single stem, with the gradual addition of stems as it ages .It can reach up to grow five feet tall. It looks beautiful in the summers with the blooming of tiny yellow flowers. It likes dry winter soil which allows for a well-drained, suitable soil having minimum possibilities of dampness. It’ s known to survive at moderately low temperatures and sometimes can even take extreme weather conditions.
1.1.8 Jelly Palm-‘ Butia capitata’
This Palm variety has the repute of belonging to the genre of hardiest possible feather-leaved variety of Palms. This species is popularly known as the Jelly Palm. It can grow progressively for several years, assuming ac magnificent size on maturity.
These have long slender projections arching out from among the leaves, which are commonly referred to as ‘ fronds’ . These fronds have a powdery coating of a greyish or bluish green substance like that on grapes and plums. Only a small part of these fronds are actually visible, as they remain almost entirely shrouded by leaflets.
Some garden enthusiasts find feather-leaved Palms more exotic than fan-leaved Palms. At the same time, the former are usually lower in hardiness as compared to the latter. .It requires moderately low temperatures but cane even endure extreme temperatures.

1.1.9 Phoenixcanariensis’

This Palm variety derives its name from the fact that it’ s grown widely in the region of Canary Island. It’ s a relatively hard date Palm possessing feather like leaves, can remain firm even at very low temperatures once it establishes itself fully.

The delicate growing, point tips of the fronds may be destroyed by frost. To avoid damage to the fronds should ideally be tied together and wrapped in fleece comprising of several layers. A raised bed should be prepared with the addition of grit to prevent water logging. Water logged soil can prove hazardous for the, emerging fronds in the centre and the base might become rotten .In the winters it should be left unwrapped allowing airflow in the centre.